A newly-published study on a Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) extract, marketed as LJ100 by HP Ingredients, found that supplementation with the ingredient could attenuate age-related declines in testosterone production in aging males.
 
In the new study, appearing in the journal Food and Nutrition Research, researchers recruited 105 men between the ages of 50 and 70 with testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL to receive either LJ100 in one of two doses (100mg and 200 mg), or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The researchers looked at serum total and free testosterone levels, while also looking at several other hormones as secondary endpoints including DHEA, HbA1c, SHBG, IGF-1, markers of thyroid function, and cortisol, as blood concentrations of the aforementioned compounds are linked to a hormonal cascade that induces age-related testosterone loss.
 
Other subjective secondary endpoints included self-reported questionnaires, the Aging Male Symptoms score, Fatigue Severity Scale, as well as muscle strength tests.
 
By week 12, the 100 mg group saw significant increases in total testosterone levels compared to the placebo group – significant increases were experienced by the 200 mg group at week 4 and in every test throughout the study period. In both of the LJ100 groups, there was a significant improvement in Aging Male Symptoms and Fatigue Severity Scale scores compared to placebo, and both of the supplementation groups saw significant increases in muscle strength. There was also a significant decrease in cortisol levels which was specific to the 200 mg group.
 
Notably, there was a significant increase in both T3 and free T3 levels in the LJ100 100mg group compared to placebo at week 12, suggesting that the lower dose was able to achieve clinically-relevant results in the primary endpoint of the study. Supplementation with LJ100 at 200 mg was able to increase serum total testosterone, reduce fatigue, and improve self-reported quality of life parameters of aging men within 2 weeks, the study concluded.
 
“Diminished testosterone production and the resulting symptoms – easy onset of fatigue, decreased sexual drive and quality of erections, and weight gain – are a normal consequence of aging in men,” Annie Eng, CEO of HP Ingredients, said. “As more men are wary of testosterone replacement therapy, they are actively seeking herbal alternatives. LJ100 is the most researched and proven Tongkat Ali for men’s health available, period. LJ100 is also proven safe and is sustainable, two key attributes that men would find attractive.”
 
This study follows the publication of two other human clinical trials on LJ100 in supporting men’s sexual and physical fitness, including one study which found that supplementation with LJ100 at 600 mg daily for two weeks was able to raise testosterone by 14% and free testosterone by 34% in young men with a mean age of 24.4 years. “These studies, with more forthcoming, represent our commitment to helping our brand partners stand out in the marketplace with fresh research demonstrating efficacy and safety in the nutraceutical solutions they seek to improve their lives and well-being,” Hame Persaud, HP Ingredients’ executive vice president, said.